Black Pepper and Darfur Rantings....

I had a fabulous night tonight. I normally hang out with the girl every friday and saturday night. Tonight it was no different in that aspect (except the absence of Muss), but instead of the norm, we went to the library to see a documentary on the genocide in Darfur, called "Darfur Now", and then we went to the Black Pepper to listen to some live music and have a few cocktails.

The piano bar was amazing. They had a live band who was just pure talent, I was so impressed. The pianist blew my mind, I only wish I could play half as well as he could!! It is such a lovely atmosphere and there were the nicest people there ever. I think that everyone should check it out - it was a blast.

"Darfur Now" was completely fabulous. They did a very good job of portraying what was going on in Darfur and also the fight for the voice of the people in Darfur to be heard. The only thing that I did not really agree with was them portraying the UN as taken action to help stop the "genocide" in Darfur, when the UN has not even declared the situation in that country to be genocide!! Don't even get me started about this!! That movie gave me some hope that at least there still are people out there fighting to make a difference, not matter how small. It makes me sick to think that our world is sitting back and allowing the same thing that happened in Rwanda to happen to millions of innocent men, women and children in Darfur because it costs too much money to admit that genocide is taking place once again and that we need to be taking immediate action to fight this mass scale crime against humanity. I really want to make a difference, if I had the money I could fly over there right now and offer what I can, or be an advocate or whatever, but for now I just continue to pray, and to support those who are challenging the systems to not allow this to go on any longer.

Just because a crisis like this is not happening in our community, city or even country does not excuse us from our hearts breaking for these people and doing nothing to help. I believe that even the slightest efforts can make a difference and I really believe that there can be peace in Darfur if enough people stood up and refused to let this happen again. I think that we can come to a place where we have compassion for these people because we can recognize that just like us, they have families and children and lives, and they are being destroyed, raped and murdered and that is something that no one would wish on anyone.

This world breaks my heart.

Reading Break? I think not my friends!

Ok seriously, I do not understand why we in Canada insist on calling spring break, "reading week". Honestly, I do not think that I have done less reading in MY LIFE. Its kind of depressing really, it is like as soon as I hear that I have a week to catch up on all the reading and the papers and the studying for midterms, something inside me goes... ''no, you know what Kristie, you deserve a week to do nothing. Thats right, do everything BUT homework this week.'' But you know if I actually did my reading and homework when I was not on a break, this would not be such an issue.
Pretty much everyone I know has the same opinion of reading week, its a nice week to relax and do nothing and come the saturday and maybe sunday night before school starts again, the panic sets in! The "OH MY GOD, I HAVE FOUR PAPERS DUE TOMORROW MORNING alarm goes off.'' It happens every year! I honestly think that there should be no assignments given on reading week, and instead it is a week dedicated to doing nothing, which is what most of us, not so eagar student do anyways!!
I even cleaned my house top to bottom, did about eight loads of laundry and have watched most of my movie collection, just to avoid the homework. But alas, it is once again drawing to an end and the panick is setting in.
I will never learn.

If I had a million dollars....

Can I just say... that I LOVE SHOPPING!!! I honestly can say that shopping when I have money is one of my favourite pass times. Call me superficial, but I just find breezing through malls really relaxing and even if you are alone, its all around fabulous! The worst part is, I love shopping on saturdays, when its SO busy and people hate each other, haha, just makes me smile! My mom always tells me that I would do so well with a million dollars- and let me tell you, I totally would!!
So for the past two days in celebration of reading week I have been shopping! I do not get to shop WITH money very often, so this was VERY exciting!!
On friday I went shopping with Muss, it was fabulous, we went clothes shopping and shoe shopping! It was epic and might I just add in how much I love the new clothes at OLD NAVY!!(I know I am such a nerd-BTW!!) and then today I went to Superstore with Shelley, which was fabulous times and then to Walmart with Jen, so really, can't go wrong!!
Jen and I were suppose to go to the Warhol exhibit today, but by the time she got ready and I was done shopping we did not have much time and since I am like the biggest Andy Warhol fan, I think I need a whole afternoon to dedicate to this exhibit.
I also did something very exciting for the first time today and I am very proud of myself! I put together- all my MYSELF- a book case!! I was so excited because I am so not the type to do stuff like that. It may have taken me like 2 hours, but I did it!! Hurrah! Simple joys, really, I am all about it!!
Its nice every once in a while to have a few days where you just take joy in little things and stop thinking so dam hard about all the crap that goes on in the world and all the thing you need to do.
Little things make me happy :)